Insightful and bang on. Design patterns, and the systems they belong to, create a framework for creativity.

If a 6-second drum break from 1969 can be used as the backbone for over 3000 multiple genre spanning tracks, take some time to think about how design patterns can be used to support your work and create new things, not just restrict it.

I've been using Notes on Mac OS for ages now. Everythign from shopping lists, to where I parked my car at the airport, to much more important things. It's ok, but, like Chris, I've been hankering for something more.

<

blockquote>I like the native macOS Notes app just fine. It's quick and easy, it's desktop and mobile, it syncs... but there are enough limitations that I wanted something better. Plus, I wanted something team-based and web-friendly (shared URLs!) and Notion hits those nails on the h...

Zach from Filament Group have a good write up on making a quick blog with Eleventy. The opening paragraph pretty much sums up my relationship with Terminal.

Does the command line stress you out? Have you been burned one too many times by confusing error messages and unintuitive syntax? Don’t worry, that’s pretty common. If you invest a little time learning about the command line, you can educate yourself out of those feelings and unlock a new tier of productivity.

Wonderfful branding work from Pentagram for J.K. Rowling's growing magical universe. I think it balances the line between visual cliche and refreshing really well. It's comfortable, nostalgic, expected, but also timeless and refreshing in other ways. A particular favourite element of the branding system of mine is the new typeface called 'Harry Beast':

Is anyone ever surprised that new logo designs are often met with either outrage or 'meh'. I don't think i've ever heard of anyone loving a new logo other than the CMO and the agency or designer who created it.

Formula One has revealed that more than two thirds of its fans were indifferent about its controversial decision to change its logo last year.

Of course new brand identities are important. And logo iterations are important aspects of that evolution. But testing ...

More not-so-subtle design changes to software I use every day. Y'know, I am all for steady improvement. But relentless interface changes in applications that I use every day is getting a little tiresome. SaaS UI fatigue is really a thing.

I wonder if this is a trend. Medium's draw was certainly – for me anyway – similar: different audiences, different reach, and opportunities of cross pollination of content that you can't get easily with decentralised systems.

These days Medium is focused on their membership offering, though. Trying to aggregate writing from many sources and sell a broad subscription on top of that. And it’s a neat model, and it’s wonderful to see Medium try something different. But it’s not for us, and it’s not for Signal v Noise.
Writing for us is not a business, in any direct sense of the word. We write because we have something to say, not to make money off page views, advertisements, or subscriptions. If some readers end up signing up for Basecamp, that’s great. But if they just like to read and not buy, that’s also great.